Officials are probing how a 51-year-old highway bridge came to collapse in the Italian port city of Genoa yesterday, killing at least 26 people and injuring 16 others as it sent dozens of vehicles tumbling into a heap of concrete and twisted steel.

Malaysian minister sends Aust MH17 support

Malaysia's transport minister has expressed his support for Australia after a national day of mourning for the MH17 victims.

Grieving families, dignitaries and members of the public gathered around the country on Thursday to remember the 298 victims on the Malaysian Airlines jet, including 38 Australians.

"On this day of national mourning in Australia, I would like to again express my deepest condolences to the families and friends of those Australian citizens whose lives were so unjustly cut short aboard flight MH17," Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said in a statement.

"Words cannot express how deeply family and friends have been affected by this terrible tragedy though I hope they find some comfort in the support shown today from a united Australia as well as from the people of Malaysia who share a common grief."

The minister also thanked the Australian government for its collaboration in the aftermath of the July 17 missile attack.